Fox News Hourly Update – 11PM ET 12/17/2025 Newscast

Host: FOX News Podcasts
Air Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a fast-paced roundup of top national news stories, highlighting President’s end-of-year address focused on economics, new developments in high-profile criminal investigations, legislative updates, and legal proceedings involving well-known figures.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Presidential End-of-Year Address & Economic Outlook

• Main Points:

  • President claims his policies are reversing economic hardships and promises improved financial prospects for Americans in the new year.
  • He asserts that prices are coming down after years of high costs and declining incomes.
  • The president attributes current economic challenges to the prior (Biden) administration.
  • Promises to lower interest rates by appointing a new Federal Reserve Chair.

• Key Quotes:

  • [00:21] President: “You will see in your wallets and bank accounts in the new year. After years of record setting falling incomes, our policies are boosting take home pay at a historic pace.”
  • [00:36] President: “11 months ago I inherited a mess and I'm fixing it.”

• Additional Reactions:

  • Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL): Praises the president's accomplishments.
    • [00:52] “What he has accomplished in just these first 10, 11 months is remarkable, but I think more is yet to come.”
  • Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): Counters the president’s narrative, citing rising unemployment and burdensome tariffs.

2. International and Domestic Crime Updates

• Drug Smuggling Interdiction:

  • [01:04] U.S. military sinks another suspected drug boat in the eastern Pacific—the 26th such incident this year. Four individuals were killed aboard.

• Nick Reiner Double Homicide Case:

  • [01:26] First court appearance after arrest; Reiner is on suicide watch, arraignment postponed to January 7th.
    • Jonathan Hunt (Reporting): “He was brought into court wearing a suicide prevention smock. He sat there shackled as well. He only spoke once when the judge addressed him about the delay in the arraignment.”
  • LA County Coroner confirms Rob and Michelle Reiner were fatally stabbed.

• Brown University Shootings:

  • [02:32] Providence police seek a second person of interest in murders of two students, with nine others injured.
  • [02:38] Tanya J. Powers: Police appeal for help identifying a person seen near the main suspect, suspect may have scoped the scene before the attack. FBI offers $50,000 reward.
    • “Investigators... say this person was, quote, in proximity of the person of interest in the shooting... The search for the shooter is ongoing.”

• MIT Professor Shooting:

  • [03:17] The manhunt continues for the gunman who killed an MIT professor earlier in the week.

3. Congressional Health Care Legislation

• [03:28] The House passes a health care bill to improve care quality, access, flexibility, and add transparency—particularly for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson:
    • “It increases the quality of care, the access to care. It gives persons more options, more flexibility in their health care, and also it adds transparency.”
• The bill excludes extension of ACA premium subsidies, but Democrats (with four GOP allies) push the issue to the House floor through a discharge petition.

4. Legal and Justice System News

• Ghislaine Maxwell’s Appeal:
  • [03:42] Maxwell asks judge to overturn her conviction, citing alleged constitutional violations and new evidence.
• FBI Leadership Change:
  • Dan Bongino, noted for disputes with AG Bondi over Epstein files, to resign as Deputy Director of the FBI next month.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• President:

  • [00:21] “You will see in your wallets and bank accounts in the new year... our policies are boosting take home pay at a historic pace.”

• Sen. Katie Britt:

  • [00:52] “What he has accomplished in just these first 10, 11 months is remarkable, but I think more is yet to come.”

• Jonathan Hunt:

  • [01:26] “He was brought into court wearing a suicide prevention smock. He sat there shackled as well.”

• Tanya J. Powers:

  • [02:38] “Police are asking the public to review security or phone footage from the week before the attack...”

• House Speaker Mike Johnson:

  • [03:28] “It increases the quality of care, the access to care. It gives persons more options, more flexibility in their health care, and also it adds transparency.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02–01:04: President’s address and economic policies; political reactions
• 01:04–01:47: Crime crackdown at sea; Nick Reiner court appearance
• 02:32–03:17: Brown University and MIT shooting investigations
• 03:28–03:42: House health care bill specifics and Democrat response
• 03:42–04:28: Updates on Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal and FBI leadership

This episode provides a rapid but thorough overview of critical national issues, balancing major economic policy updates with in-depth coverage of developing criminal cases and legislative moves in Washington. Listeners receive a concise briefing on the latest headlines, complete with direct remarks from key public figures and reporters.